creativity

A drawing done by Kerrie Hillman during a Torrance Test of Creative Thinking

How creative are you?

Forget the SATs or Common Core. A psychologist created a different kind of standardized test to evaluate students: it measures your creativity.

How creative are you?
Gary Marcus, director of New York University’s Center for Language and Music

Gary Marcus: Defining creativity

Gary Marcus: Defining creativity
Charles Limb, professor of otolaryngology at Johns Hopkins Medicine

The neuroscience of jazz

The neuroscience of jazz
MRI of the brain

Gary Marcus: Enhancing creativity

Gary Marcus: Enhancing creativity
Maxine's portraits of her imaginary friends

Imaginary friends forever

Imaginary friends forever
boredom

In praise of boredom: Researchers dish on the brain benefits of idle time

When we’re resting, a very important part of our brain gets to work.

In praise of boredom: Researchers dish on the brain benefits of idle time
Traffic

The noise of cities can harm our health but it can also make us more creative

Journalist Susie Neilson explores our love-hate relationship with city noise.

The noise of cities can harm our health but it can also make us more creative

Gary Marcus: Enhancing Creativity

Musicians are famous for their wild and often intoxicated lifestyles, but does a lack of inhibition in the brain actually make you a better musician?

Gary Marcus: Enhancing Creativity

How Creative Are You?

Forget the SATs or Common Core. A psychologist created a different kind of standardized test to evaluate students: it measures your creativity.  

How Creative Are You?

Imaginary Friends Forever

Children with imaginary friends can be more empathetic and social, but does that mean they’re more creative than other kids?

Imaginary Friends Forever

What's Your Creative New Years Resolution for 2016?

What creative project do you want to start — and finish — in the New Year?

What's Your Creative New Years Resolution for 2016?

Aha Moment: "The Golden Compass"

When Julia Pilowsky read “The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman, she was so struck by the idea of animal daemons she decided to get one herself.  

Aha Moment: "The Golden Compass"

Eat, Pray, Work: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Secret to Creativity

Elizabeth Gilbert shares advice for being creative from her new book, “Big Magic.” Turns out it might be something you know already. 

Eat, Pray, Work: Elizabeth Gilbert’s Secret to Creativity
What's happening in this bored young woman's brain? Scientists aren't totally sure, but suspect that it is mostly beneficial

One woman's plan to take your creativity back from your phone — by making you bored

In our last installment of How Our Devices Are Warping Our Brains, we looked at the relationship between device use and sleep. Now, we examine the relationship between phone dependence and creativity. Put your phone away and let your mind do whatever it feels like doing for a while. You could be surprised by the result.

One woman's plan to take your creativity back from your phone — by making you bored
Lena Dunham (second from right) and the other principal actors of the hit HBO series, Girls.

Lena Dunham's candid, quirky style shows through in a brutally honest new book

Lena Dunham doesn't hold much back when it comes to mining her life — warts and all — for material. "From an early age, I found the concept of secrecy really destructive," she says. In her new book, that includes her struggles with OCD and criticism of her hit show, Girls.

Lena Dunham's candid, quirky style shows through in a brutally honest new book